Go on a Lark!

Nicole Sjostedt

When you look up the meaning of “Lark”, the list tends to go on and on. Apart from being a species of bird, it also means something done for fun, something mischievous or daring — an amusing adventure. Owners Veronika and Dane Baspaly who just happen to be husband and wife took on their “amusing adventure” two-and-a-half years ago with their store Lark. “The name Lark actually used to be a bike that Dane owned. The lark bike was an old Chinese bike that the red army used, we liked the name and its many meanings.”

The couple had moved to Vancouver from Toronto to be around family. Wanting to give the west coast a chance, they were in the market for what they initially thought they wanted, a lounge or restaurant. “It’s incredibly difficult in Vancouver to get commercial space, you have to take what you can get.”

Keeping their eyes pealed they were lucky enough to stumble upon their first space on 8th avenue, just off of Main Street. “Dane is super spatial,” Veronika explains, “he can look at a space and make it work.”  They decided after looking at the space a second time that it was more suited to clothes than a lounge. “Neither of us know anything about retail, but we’re both clean and minimal.  We like nice things, we’re into nice clothes and wanted to bring the things we like into one space.”

Last April Veronika and Dane relocated Lark to a beautiful spacious spot on Main Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. “We love the area and it’s all good, friendly competition.  We find the more people are doing stuff around here, the more it pushes us forward so we can’t be lazy.”  

Some of the brands that you’ll find at Lark include Paperbird, Kulpa and Tannis Hegan hand bags which Veronika says “fold into your life so easily”. Lark carries both menswear and womenswear with prices ranging anywhere from a tank or t-shirt for $ 30 to an amazing winter coat for around $ 995. “The way we see things is that it’s just clothes — we’re not trying to be something we’re not.” Quality and sophistication are what this astute couple brings to Lark, they’ve edited down what they feel is the perfect rendition of a fall/winter wardrobe.